Circuit continuing device



March 6, 1934. H. A. DOUGLAS CIRCUIT CONTINUING DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 6, 1934. H. A. DOUGLAS CIRCUIT CONTINUING DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1931 MQW/ll,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 6, 1934 NETE@ niil .PATN @ENCE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to circuit continuing devices for electrical conductors and is of particular utility in providing an improved line connection for current conducting wires.

Among other objects, my invention aims to provide an improved housing for a plurality of metallic terminal plugs adapted for making an electrical connection between the plugs and havin means associated therewith for yieldingiy engai-ging the plugs.

The invention may be understood by reference to the illustrative construction shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the line 1 1 of Figure 3;

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, parts being in elevation;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of one form of the housing;

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 6 and showing a modied form of the housing;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of a modied form of detent and spring employed with the housing shown in Figure 5, the housing and parts of the detent being in section;

Figure '7 is a vertical section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a perspective View of the modified form of housing shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

Referring in detail to the Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, I have shown a housing 1 which is desirably formed of an insulating material such as hard rubber which may be molded to shape and may have associated therewith as by being disposed therein a detent member 2.

In the illustrative construction the housing is adapted to provide a line connection between the two current conducting wires 3 and 4, which have the usual insulation 5 thereon except where the wires are stripped to have their ends soldered within the bores of the customary metallic terminal plugs 6. Each of the terminal plugs 6 is desirably formed with a bulbous tip providing an annular groove 'l at the base of the tip.

As here shown, the housing 1 has a number of recesses therein, in this instance the two parallel recesses 8, each recess snugly receiving a terminal plug 6, the plugs being inserted, for example, in opposite directions. If desired, the inner ends of the recesses may be apertured as at 8a, the aperture 8a, however, being desirably smaller than the diameter of the tip of the plug,

so that the margin of the aperture 8a will provide a stop for the plug 6, thus locating the plug appropriately with reference to the detent 2, as next described. f

In the construction shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the detent member 2 is T-shaped having a tubular ieg 9 and a transverse head 9ct. The leg 9 is axially disposed with reference to the cylindrically shaped portion 10 of the housing and the elongated head 9a, is disposed longitudinally in a hollow turret-like portion 11 of the housing. The detent is movable axially in the housing, having a snug sliding t with the inner surface of the wall of the portion 11 and with a bore 12 through which the leg 9 passes and which connects the interiors of the cylindrical portion i0 and the turret-like portion 11 of the housing. The cylindrical portion 10 is counterbored as at 13 to provide a spring barrel for the coil spring 14 which is enclosed therein and surrounds the leg 9. The spring may be seated at one end against a flange 15 in which the leg 9 terminates and at the other end against a shoulder 16 formed between the bore 12 and the counter-bore 13. The turret-like portion 11 may be open at 16a so that the detent 2 may be inserted therethrough into the housing before the flange l5 is turned up on the leg 9. After the detent has been inserted in position, the spring 14 may be placed about the leg 9 through the open end 16h of the portion 10 and the flange 15 produced on the leg 9 in any convenient manner, as is well known to those skilled in the art.

The interior of the hollow turret-like portion l1 of the housing opens into the recesses 8 transversely thereof and the detent 2 is urged by the spring 14 into a position in which the head 9a of the detent normally intersects the bores of both recesses 8. The head 9a is desirably of U -shape as best shown in Figure 3 having surfaces 17 95K? which are arcuate longitudinally of the recesses and which act as cam surfaces in cooperation with the .bulbous tips of the terminal plugs 6. When one of the terminal plugs 6 is inserted in a recess S, the surface 17 of the detent 2 will 160' ride over the bulbous tip of the plug against the action of the spring 14 and will snap into the annular groove 7 at the base of the tip, thus yieldingly engaging the terminal plug with the housing. The elongated head 9a may provide two 105i surfaces 17 one for each plug 6 which surfaces are also desirably arcuate transversely of the plugs as at 18 to conform to the contour of the plug and to afford a secure engagement which prevents accidental displacement of the plugs 110i and elects a good electrical connection therebetween. The circuit may be broken by pulling upon either or both of the insulated wires 3, 4.

Since as here represented the housing 1 is formedA of insulating material, the detent 2 is desirably of metal to provide an electrical connection between the metallic plugs 6.

In the modication shown in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive, the detent member 19 may be of channel formation, the leg 9 of the detent member shown in Figures 1 to 4 being omitted, and the spring 20 being held in place at one end by a pocket 21 formed in the housing 22 and at the other end by a boss 23 protruding from the channeled surface of the detent 19. The detentis guided in its movement within the housing by ears 24 struck from each end of the detent which slidingly lap shoulders 25 in the interior of the housing 22 and by the walls of the slot 26 in which' the detent moves against the action of the spring 20 with a snug sliding nt. In this form of construction, the spring 20 may be inserted in the housing through an opening 27 located directly opposite the pocket 21. The spring may then be held compressed by any convenient means, while the detent 19 is slipped into position in the slot 26 when the spring may be released to have one of its ends located upon the boss 23, the spring thus yieldingly holding the detent 19 in position in the housing.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the details of construction here shown.

Having described an embodiment of my invention, I claim: n 1

l. Circuit continuing means comprlsing, 1n combination, two separate insulated conducting wires having metallic plugs at their terminals, each of said plugs embodying a bulbous tip and an arcuate annular groove at the base of the tip; an insulated housing having recesses receiving said plugs in parallel relationship and in opposite directions; a T-shape detent in said housing having an elongated head normally intersecting both recesses, said head having surfaces in the recesses arcuate both longitudinally of the recess and transversely thereof, said surfaces engaging the grooves of the terminal plugs; a spring surrounding the leg of the detent and keyed thereto to urge the detent into a position whereby said plugs are yieldingly engaged; and stops limiting the insertion of the plugs into the recesses and causing the detent to engage the said grooves when the plugs are positioned against said stops.

2. Circuit continuing means comprising, in combination; two separate insulated conducting wires having metallic plugs at their terminals, each of said plugs embodying a bulbous tip and an arcuate annular groove at the base of the tip; an insulated housing having recesses receiving said plugs Vin parallel relationship; a detent in said housing normally intersecting both recesses, said detent being of channel formation and having a boss centrally thereof; a icoil spring urging the detent to intersect the recesses held in position against said detent by engagement at one end with said boss and at the other end by a pocket in the housing; and lugs at each end of the detent slidingly engaging shoulders in the interior of the housing for guid- 100 ing the movement of the detent against the action of the spring.

3. Circuit continuing means comprising a molded insulating housing having substantially parallel recesses therein for the reception of 105 conductor terminals; a slot in the housing intersecting the recesses; a metallic detent movable in the slot and engageable with both terminals; meeting surfaces on the detentv and the housing adjacent each recess for guiding move- 1l@ ment o f the detent; a helical compression spring pressing the detent into both recesses to engage both terminals; an enlargement of the housing receiving one end of the spring; a formation on the detent engaging the other end of the 115 spring for anchoring the spring to the detent; and means on the housing limiting movement of the detent into the recesses.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

